KARTING: Louis Wall ready to relaunch Superkarts title bid

CIRENCESTER Superkart racer Louis Wall hopes a return to his happy hunting ground of Snetterton will kick-start his ambitious hopes of success in two different events over the next few months.

The 25-year-old has finished second in the British Superkart Championship for the last two years, reaching speeds of up to 138 miles per hour in the 250cc category.

And this summer, as well as attempting to overhaul champion Paul Platt, Wall is also trying his luck in the open 125cc class which provides a very different racing challenge.

Wall, who works for the family cleaning business, said: “You’re only slightly slower in the 125cc races but there’s a big contrast.. It’s a complete test of your driving skills, and everything must be perfect if you’re going to get a good result.”

Wall made an inauspicious start to the 125cc championship, mechanical issues resulting in two failures to finish in the opening round at Brands Hatch last month.

But he returns to Snetterton on Saturday (May 10) for the second round of the six-event championship, and is looking forward to reacquainting himself with a track where he won the 2012 British Superkarts Grand Prix.

Wall said: “You’re cornering there at around 115 mph, it’s a great track with a lot of history.

"We’ve had some teething problems at 125, but we're sure we will be competitive.”

Also on the horizon is Wall’s next race in the 250cc category – another six-event championship – at Silverstone on June 7-8 when the drivers will be using some of the new Formula 1 track configuration.

Wall revealed that former world F1 champion Nigel Mansell will be keeping a close eye on his progress.

“My dad, Martyn, used to race karts with Nigel, who became a family friend, back in the 70s and early 80s," he said.

“People don’t realise, but for several years Nigel lived in Siddington and worked in Cirencester for my grandfather Peter, who set up the family business back in 1950.”

KwikFit’s Cirencester branch, plus the Mansell Collection, a specialised car dealership in Jersey, along with UK Youth – a charity of which Mansell is president – all support Wall’s racing,

Wall added: “I’m very grateful for all the help I receive. I love racing and really hope that this can be my year, particularly at 250cc.

“We’ve been getting closer and closer to Paul Platt with the help of our engine tuner Robert Walkingshaw.

"We were the only team to beat him last season so the hope is that we can do that consistently and really put the pressure on."